7080.
Orphrey Web, silk and gold; ground, crimson; pattern, on a gold diapering, conventional floriations and scrolls, in one of which is the bust of St. Peter, with his key in one hand and a book in the other. Florentine, late 15th century. 21 inches by 8 inches.
Like many other samples, this rich web of crimson silk and fine gold
thread was wrought for those kinds of broad orphreys needed for
chasubles and copes; and sometimes worked up into altar-frontals.
7081.
Silk Damask; ground, yellow; pattern, net-work, the meshes, which are looped to each other, filled in with a conventional floriated ornament, all in green. Italian, 16th century. 16-1/2 inches by 10-3/4 inches.
Intended for household adornment. This stuff must have had an
agreeable effect, though the green has somewhat faded.
7082.
Silk Damask; ground, yellowish pale green; pattern, a diapering of very small leaves and flowers. Oriental, 13th century. 6-1/2 inches by 5-3/4 inches.
Just like No. 7056, and needing the same near inspection to find
out its small but well-managed delicate design.
7083.
Silk and Linen Texture; ground, yellow; pattern, amid foliage, two cheetahs, face to face, all blue, but spotted yellow. Syrian, 14th century. 7-1/4 inches by 6-1/2 inches.
At the same time that the warp is of linen, the woof of silk is thin;
and a bold design is almost wasted upon poor materials. The specimen,
however, is so far valuable, as it shows us how, for ages, a Persian
feeling went along with the workmen on the eastern shores of the Levant.
